Random Seattle Athlete of the Day: Charlie Rogers
Oh, Charlie.
Name: John Edward “Charlie” Rogers
Claim to fame: Seahawks return specialist from 1999-2001
Was he any good? Sure, why not. He was first-team All-Pro as a rookie in 1999 after leading the NFL with 14.5 yards per punt return. His 94-yard touchdown was the longest in the league that year. He added kick returns to his NFL repertoire in 2000 and was dangerous for a couple years until losing his job with the Dolphins in 2003. He had three career return touchdowns, which was pretty impressive in the pre-Dante Hall era.
He’s all over the record books at Georgia Tech, the only player in school history to amass 500 yards rushing, receiving and on returns (by a comfortable margin: he had 1,287, 657 and 1,749, respectively). He holds school records for longest pass play (96 yards from Brandon Shaw) and career punt return average (15.2 yards). He was named team MVP in 1998 before the Seahawks made him their 5th round selection the following April.
Anything else to know? Kim Rogers nicknamed her son after Charlie Brown of the Charles Schultz strips. Thankfully Chuck didn’t choose placekicking.
His punt return touchdown in the 2000 playoff loss to the Dolphins was the last Seahawks touchdown ever scored at the King County Multipurpose Domed Stadium.
Rogers and former Seahawks great Jay Bellamy returned to Matawan Regional High School in Aberdeen, New Jersey as assistant football coaches in 2009. Rogers coordinates the offense while Bellamy serves as the special teams and defensive backs coach.
